Letters: Is DPS any better off after Roberts?

May 4, 2013

Before we sing praises for departing emergency financial manager Roy Robers, let’s consider Detroit Public Schools’ problems holistically. Roberts did not improve the DPS fiscal situation by $200 million. He merely added it to the much greater long-term debt of the system. Roberts did not “solve” any educational problems by spinning off the 15 low-performing schools into another district. He merely cut off the losers. Obviously, cost-cutting goes along with the loss of 14,000 students since 2011. Whether it was enough is questionable.

The main systemic problems, outside of the fiscal ones, remain. A dysfunctional school board, which has consistently failed to insist on a higher level of performance in the school system, remains in place. The state, even though it controls the purse strings, has also failed to improve school quality and performance. Clearly an academic emergency manager is desperately needed.

Is there an answer? Yes, selected charter schools, like University Preparatory Academy, have demonstrated that Detroit students can be educated productively. Admittedly, they have had the considerable benefit of Robert Thompson’s generous support for new facilities. That alone is not enough of course, but it can be stated categorically that improvement in teaching was not due to having nice facilities. Systemic change is needed!